Claimed Fabs were 'bigger than Jesus' (and later told his bandmates in 1968 that he was the reincarnation of Christ). Forgiven by a Vatican newspaper just last month, which belatedly explained he had been simply 'showing off'.

2: Kanye West

Mum compared him to 'Gandhi, Jesus Christ, people whose job it is to tell the truth'. Apparently approving, KW posed in a crown of thorns.

3: Ian Brown

'I am the Resurrection/ And I am the Light.' Good for you, son. Now juggles matters Divine with an interest in kung fu.

4: Richard Ashcroft

Highlighted the similarities between fading Britpop singers and Jesus: 'I feel like Him. Only me and Liam Gallagher know what it feels like.' And Rick Witter, obviously...

5: Marilyn Manson

'I believe I am God,' growled the pantomime overlord of industrial goth-rock. But not in a good way, oh no.... .

6: Ol' Dirty Bastard

Adopted 'Big Baby Jesus' as an alias: 'I always been Jesus. I don't know what the big secret's been all these years.'

7: Eric Clapton

Not so much Jesus as simply God, according to the famous piece of graffiti that appeared on a London tube station in 1966. Hence Blind Faith, perhaps?

8: Madonna

Sang 'Live to Tell' in a thorny crown while being 'crucified', claiming: 'If Jesus were alive today he'd be doing the same thing.' If you say so, Madge.

9: Bono

Flag-waver, peace-bringer, famine-fighter, Pope-pal, international conscience and example to us all. Need we say more?

10: Michael Jackson

His Messianic mania at the 1996 Brits prompted Jarvis Cocker to proffer his arse in drunken disgust.